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The Preaching of the Cross (3 of 30)
Series: The Book of 1 Corinthians
Dan Rodgers
I Corinthians 1:18-25
July 14, 2004

INTRODUCTION:

1. Our lesson last week was taken from (vv. 11-17),
concerning division in the church at Corinth. Among other issues, Paul found that the members were divided over certain leaders--Apollos, Cephas and Paul, Himself (vv. 12, 13).

a. Paul's simple answer to the problem was that
Christians are to follow Christ. That's what "Christian" means; "one who follows Christ."

2. As we move on in chapter 1, Paul turns our attention
to the cross. In addition to their error in following certain leaders, there were two other issues he addresses in the first part of the letter:

a. They were placing more emphasis on baptism
than they were on the preaching of the cross. Notice what he says in (vs. 17).

b. They were focusing on the philosophy and
wisdom of men rather than on the importance of the cross. See what he says in (vv. 17, 20).

3. Not much has changed today. When the world looks
to men for wisdom, they seldom turn to Christ and the Bible; rather, they quote philosophers and thinkers like Plato, Aristotle. Socrates and Cicero.

QUOTE: Augustine once contrasted Christ with the world's philosophers. He said, "I have read in Plato and Cicero sayings that are very wise and very beautiful; but I have never read in either of them: "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden" (Matthew 11:28). –John Kilbourn

3. Let me give you two points to our outline:

I. The Wisdom of Man
II. The Power of God

I. THE WISDOM OF MEN

A. A wayward direction (vv. 17, 18a)

1. Man without God can only think like a man.
He does not understand God, nor can He know the mind of God: Isaiah 55:8-9, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your tho ...

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